Rand Paul: Restore voting rights for felons

Urging home state of Kentucky to lead way

Published: 02/20/2014 at 11:24 AM

(LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER) FRANKFORT — Despite misgivings from Democrats, a state constitutional amendment that would restore most felons’ voting rights after a five-year waiting period passed the state Senate on Wednesday with overwhelming support.

A bipartisan vote of 34-4 approved the measure, which was a Republican substitute for legislation that would create automatic restoration, and the legislature is now tasked with finding a compromise between the House and Senate versions.

Democrats argued that the five-year waiting period, which Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, added to win Republican votes, was tantamount to another punitive measure for felons who already had paid their debts to society.